Not the usual

A few thngs today just to demonstrate the other type of tstuff I'm listening to at the moment along side the usual indie stuff.

Most unusually, I've been listening to a bit of Coldplay the past few days. Not that I would have anything against them ever but they are not a band I would ever put on a playlist or on out of choice in my room generally. This however is a rather special little remix by the main man of the remix, Jacques Lu Cont aka Les Rhythms Digital aka the Thin White Duke aka many other names. His name being next to a remix usually makes me give it a whirl, I particularly also like his remix of Mr Brightside, which if anyone requests it I would also happily post. This song is just brilliant though, takes all the best parts of the original, or the Kraftwerk bits if you want to get picky, and adds a brilliant beat and all types of other parts. It is about 9 minutes long though and is therefore quite a big file but nevertheless I recommend a listen as it is superb start to finish.

Coldplay - Talk (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)

Johnny Boy have been on rotation for me ever since they released the truelly incredible You Are the Generation That Bought More Shoes and You Get What You Deserve. I wondered if they were ever going to make an appearance again and I am delighted to tell you that they are indeed back some fantastic new music. The music has a 60's pop feel to it but also I don't feel I can do justice to their sound with words. Its pure pop brilliance and when I heard this new track I was convinced that if this gets near the airwaves then this band could make it big. The boy girl harmonies and catchy lyrics on top of a great tune makes this one of my favourite songs of the year so far easily. Thanks to Yer Mam! for drawing this one to my attention!

Johnny Boy - Fifteen Minutes

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The NME Show

Yeah they weren't headlining but lets face it, the NME shows this year were all about one band.

Arctic Monkeys went on after an excellent show from We Are Scientists who I definitly need to post on as they rocked, who came on after the Mystery Jets who as far I could see, did nothing to endear themselves to anyone.

They came on, went straight into their latest number 1, When the Sun goes down and then straight into their last Number 1, Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor. Nothing short of arrogant little bastards but if you had seen the crowd last night, there was nothing short of absolute adoration for them. People went crazy. The crowd were rocking and for most of the tracks, the crowd knew every word. The first 2 tracks were excellent, Vampires sounded pretty good live but to be honest every track was great. Favourite point for me was when he stopped singing to point at a girl in the audience just to note, "she's brilliant"; which she was. As I've said before, nobody deserves the hype they've been getting but they come pretty close to deserving it. The track I'm posting for you says everything you need to know about hearing this band live. Just before the final chorus comes in, listen to the crowd take over, and this was even before this single even came out .

And I see they got a little more good news tonight.

And even better news for any American readers.

Arctic Monkeys - Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor (Live)

Maximo Park in all credit to them were equally good however, this not helped by the fact that a lot of the less intelligent members of the audience left after the Monkeys before Maximo Park came on; it must be so good for these people to be able to run and tell all their friends "I SAW ARCTIC MONKEYS!!!" Hype following idiots. But they missed out. And it wasn't like I went there wanting to love Maximo Park (last time I went to see them they were just starting out and were support band for Bloc Party at a small venue. Singer Paul Smith didn't exactly engage well with the Edinburgh crowd and they got boo'ed a lot. But afterwards I went up to him and said sorry about the booing but I thought you were really good. To which I got a, "yeah, I know". From a band who were that small at the time, and just been boo'ed all night?!?! All credit to him, he showed me and everyone else at the Venue that night!!!) They did all the hits, did a new one which was something about 5x5 being 25 but sounded excellent. They also had a really cool stage show and mental keyboard player. Loved them though, loved the night and except for an average Mystery Jets, an excellent show. Best song was probably Apply Some Pressure but as I think everyone will have that, here is their latest single. Enjoy

Maximo Park - I Want You to Stay

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A little more

New Rhodes have been about some time, I first saw them supporting Bloc Party way back October 2004 and thought they were better at the time than the other support band, a certain Maximo Park. Since then they don't seem to have come to far and are only now getting headline slots. Lack of success however doesn't take away from how much I loved this song when I first heard it and how much I still enjoy it now

New Rhodes - I Wish I Was You

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The world isn't really fair is it? The Killers and the Bravery come along and everyone thinks they reinvented the indie disco sound and everyone else just jumped on the bandwagon. Trouble is VHS or BETA were on that wagon a long before them and doing it a lot better (than the bloody Bravery anyway. Shouldn't bitch too much, enjoyed them live before I realised how bad an album they had put together). Saw V or B last year at the Edinburgh fesitival and thought they were brilliant. This is still one of the few American bands I've put up here but I think its ok to put another up who have been so criminally overlooked. This is disco inide of the highest order. I'd love to see them go out on tour with LCD Soundsystem, I think they would get a good fanbase from their fans.

VHS or BETA - The Melting Moon

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Next up we have the lovely Long Blondes( I swear I'm not picking groups with hot girls intentionally, it really just happens to be that way). The band hae put out some good stuff lately and I particularly recommend Separated by Motorways. This is maybe less instant but I've been giving it a few listens lately and I'm impressed. A bit darker than some of the stuff here but the little Gang of Four lyric does it for me I think.

The Long Blondes - Autonomy Boy

Later...

A lot to say in a week

Well this week went by very quickly without me getting much of a chance to blog but here we go.
I've noticed this week that albums by White Rose Movement and Be Your Own Pet have appeared around the net. I'm yet to listen to them both all the way through but needless to say that both have some excellent stuff on them and I'm pretty excited about getting my hands on them proper. Wouldn't mind getting my hands on Jemina from the band either (dear god shes amazing... anyone know what this photo shoot was for?

Be Your Own Pet - Let's Get Sandy (Big Problem)

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Also out this week but properly in the shops was the new Rough Trade compilation, Counter Culture 2005. Each year I get very excited about the release of this and each year it lives up to expectations. This year I knew a lot more of the bands than previous years but that didn't take away from it making brilliant listening. My favourite track came from an artist I had no idea about , Matson Jones with a brilliant tune called New York City Fuck Off. I think I'll do a post on them once I know a bit more and sort out an mp3. Also on the CD was a track by Good Shoes, a band who I post on last month. I have to admit how wrong I was about this band because after initially being lukewarm to them, I'm loving them now. This is the track that appears on the album and its currently my favourite, everything about it is just right.

Good Shoes - Small Town Girl

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Couple of bands that, appealling enough, came recommended by a friend and if you are into your darker indie may be worth checking out, both have stuff on their myspace pages for listening.

The Horrors - London (goth/punk/indie)

The Objects - London (I think) (indie/disco)

The Rakes

In regards to talking up the Rakes so much in the last post it had somehow passed me by that they had a new single coming out that had not featured on the album. Instead of taking all the credit as I may often do, head over to You Fucking Love It and have a listen. Not sure myself yet but that is only after a listen.

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Saturday Already

Usually a week goes by and it doesn't bother me too much. However, with every week that goes by at the moment, its a week closer to handing in the dissertation I have done so very very little of. But hey, it will work out.

Not that they are needing any help with hype or anything, but if you get a moment, head over to Take Your Medicine who has an mp3 of the Arctic Monkeys brilliant/hilarious cover of Love Machine by Girls Aloud. Seriously, they do it pretty damn well.

Few bands who you should own some stuff by or at very least have heard a good deal by.

Dogs were one of the first of all the bands I have posted on, that I got into. I saw them live last year touring on the Jim Beam tour which was quite good as it was with the excellent Raveonettes and the somewhat less excellent Boxer Rebellion. The band share a lot with the Paddingtons and Libertines. Lyrics about London, wanting to escape and of course a little bit about love. In my opinion, much of their debit album, Turn Against this Land, was equal to anything that more successful yet similar acts such as Razorlight put out, just that nobody played it. If you get a chance to see them live I would recommmend you do so but first, have a listen to this. ( If you like, I suggest tracking down other stand out tracks, London Bridge and End of an Era)

Dogs - Tuned to a Different Station

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The Rakes. What more can I say. They are excellent. Truely an excellent, fun band with more catchy choruses and smart lyrics than any of the other London bands going. I am seeing them next month with support from the excellent White Rose Movement and there are few gigs I have been excited about. Saw the Rakes first supporting the Others at the Liquid Room, then at T in the Park and then headlining there to a passionate sell out crowd during the Edinburgh festival in August. Brilliant each time and front man Alan Donoghue becoming more confident and eccentric each time (and addmitedly each time a little less of a charicature Ian Curtis). This track was the first they released and although a version ended up on their excellent album , Capture/Release, I think this original version is superior. Fast, always danceable, always relevant and instantly likeable, I particularly love a good clap along to this track; just try and resist.

The Rakes - 22 Grand Job (original edit)

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The Rifles are a band I have not seen live and who I do not have in the pipeline to see either, but would love to. Both their singles so far, When I'm Alone and the fantastic Peace and Quiet have been instantly addictive and have gone down very well on mix CDs for friends. Both have been put on their own label, Right Hook Recordings, and have had decent, although nothing on what they deserved, airplay from Zane Lowe and some at Xfm. I think they are an exciting prospect and with new single Local Boy having been produced by ex Lightening Seed Ian Broudie, this band could definitly have a bright future.

The Rifles - Peace and Quiet

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Finally just a couple of bonus tracks from bands who for some reason or another haven't quite made it yet, but have definitly deserved to.

The Crimea are a great band who's top new album, Tragedy Rocks, seems to be another destined to be forever overlooked. This is a track which had some decent airplay and made it onto daytime Radio 1 and seemed to get some good right ups but never came to much. Having been a huge favourite of John Peel, this track deserves some of your time and that the band have toured with the likes of Kings of Leon should tell you that you should give them a listen at least.

The Crimea - Lottery Winners on Acid (Peel Session - with a brilliantly Peel-esque introduction)

Eastern Lane may not have released much in a while but hopefully they will be putting stuff out again soon. The NME gave them some big love when they first came out and most agreed with them. Of course not everyone makes it based on good reviews alone and the band quickly fell from favour. Sad that because in this track that I am posting, is one of the best songs of recent years and although the intro in particular has a very Libertines-esque feel to it, listen further and you'll hear just how good this band are. Do not pass up this opportunity to get this track of you may seriously regret it!!!

Eastern Lane - Holy Arms

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Far far far too long

Its been far too long, but I've got to that unfortunate time in my university career where its work work work unfortunately. Add to that a small effort to go to the gym a bit more and the small time it takes to update this hasn't happened.

Here's some little tunes for tonight though.

The Strange Death of Liberal England are a band I know near nothing about but Drowned in Sound named them their tip for 2006 so there must be something there. Its all ambient and progressive stuff but seems very nice. If you head over to their myspace and download Motor in the Sky and see what you think. Personally, from the bands Drowned in Sound were comparing them to, such as Jamie T, I'm surprised they won, but its good enough. If you have a second leave a comment saying what you think and if its good I'll track down some more and post it.

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Morning Runner are another band that I have been listening to a fair bit. At first I was put of somewhat by the fact that they supported Coldplay but it seems that this was just a very good choice of support band rather than looking for band who sounded similar to the band. They employ a good piano sound, unlike Coldplay's however and good strong vocals. The songs are upbeat and catchy, I've seen them used to soundtrack some sport montages very well. All round impressed and I think their album will be very strong. Go see them on their tour if you get the chance.

Morning Runner - Be All You Want Me To Be

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Bromheads Jacket are a Sheffielf band getting some nice write ups all round. They have a few good tunes but so far they aren't doing anything particularly special. Wooley Bridge is a track I like quite a lot but its been pretty heavily posted so I've chosen another just to spread the love. They remind me a little of the Cribs or Good Shoes but not sure their about to become big by any means, but don't let me put you off. They have a good fanbase and are touring a fair bit at the moment so check them out if you like what you hear.

Bromheads Jacket - Lions on the Prowl

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Jamie Lidell is a name thats been going about for sometime now and even when he was on Jools Holland I wasn't all that impressed for some reason; to be honest I thought he was a little odd. But then I downloaded this track after seeing some people raving about it and I must say I was really wrong. This track is amazingly soulful and brilliantly put together for a white English guy. I've been listening pretty much every day to this track and still loving it, seems to be going down well when I've given it to friends too so if you haven't heard I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Jamie Lidell - Multiply

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Those mp3s

Good Shoes - Never Meant to Hurt You

The Automatic - Recover

and as a little bonus- I got thinking about the Komakino post and here is the Joy Division track from where the band take their name

Joy Division - Komakino

And a song which I have been listening to since I got the Aracde Fire's cover of the track from The Torture Garden the other week. I don't know but perhaps they became aware of it because of it featuring in the trailer for the new Sofia Coppola film. Don't know why a New Order track is used over a period drama trailer, maybe she's planning on another hip-as-hell soundtrack a la Lost in Translation? I think it has more than a hint of the same overall feeling to it as Just Like Honey, the Jesus and Mary Chain Track at the end of Lost in Translation. Even though the sound has very little in common, its all about the mood. See what you think.

New Order - Age of Consent (how cool is this track!!!)
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Just Like Honey (if you don't already own it I highly recommend you get the album Psychocandy, on which this track is the opener)

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A few bands for a dull Saturday

Komakino are a band from the forever rock'n'roll Derby who take their name from a Joy
Division track. The band got a fair amount of airplay from Xfm and a few at Radio 1 for this track which I particularly like. It has a really fun feel to it, good riff and predictable throw away lyrics that are great for sing along. The band have played with fellow scenesters iForward, Russia! (who have been getting write ups on blogs accross the pond, see Central Village who are finally giving them some BIG love) and White Rose Movement. Enjoy

Komakino - Say Something

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Good Shoes were a band that I thought were going to get bigger and bigger and I just wouldn't get. I visited their myspace a few times, had a listen and just didn't like. Then I heard the track below. I had downloaded it and put in a playlist and forgotten about it. Then it came on unexpectedly and I didn't know what it was, but I loved it. The band are another that potentially could be big, they seem to have a large fanbase, the number of hits on the myspace being testament to that. Whilst sticking to a farily regular contemporary sound they still manage to come across original and the vocal style on this track in particular is brilliant. The band tour at the end of the month with Be Your Own Pet which I'm sure sounds as good a prospect to you as it does to me. ( You Fucking Love It blog has a short bit on Good Shoes and has posted a different track for your pleasure)

Good Shoes - Never Meant to Hurt You

Ok, had a link to that track but as with The Automatic earlier, I just can't get it working. Go to their myspace for a listen and as with the other, I'll post it sometime soon.

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The BBC Sound of 2006

The BBC have just released their annual list of what they expect to be the sound of 2006. Last year they looked ahead with bands that I was already excited about; Bloc Party, the Bravery,
Kasier Chiefs and Tom Vek. This year I look at the list with nothing but disappointment. The list is both predictable and sadly looks to the US too much. Artists like Chris Brown and Marcos Hernandez don't need to be put on lists like this as they don't need any help getting noticed, they have huge labels behind them willing to put money into doing this (I understand they may still be the sound of 2006 for some but not in any important way). Other bands on it include Kubb, who are fine but I just don't like them, Guillemots who I love and The Feeling who are dangerously dull. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah make it in unsurprisngly as they are truely brilliant and are already this years Arcade Fire. I think CYHSY will only get as big as Arcade Fire, few radio plays and generally good sales of their albums but are too obscure for mainstream, but I really really hope I'm wrong. They tour again at the end of the month, and I cannot wait to see them again, last time they were phenomenal (as were excellent support band Hockey Night).
Another band who make the list are The Automatic, a bunch of Welsh lads who, whilst not setting the world on fire yet, have released a very good single in Recover. Its got synths and everything so no doubt it will get airplay on Radio 1 shoudl it get the inevitable re-release (I would post it but cannot seem to get the link working. If you want a copy right now, head over to Headphone Sex for a copy)

I personally, am surprised that Blackbud and Larrikin Love didn't get on but then this list is hardly difinitive (they missed Arcade Fire last time!)

Later...

Other band wonderings...

The Cribs were, preceeding the Kaisers et al, the first band that I got into from the current Leeds scene. The sad thing is that whilst everyone loves to talk about them and namecheck them, they seem to be getting nowhere. They have a relatively big and very devoted fanbase and anyone who has seen them live whether on their own or supporting, knows they blow the crowd away everytime(they're known for doing a duet with the Kasiers, brilliant when I saw them last year doing it at the Liquid Room). The three brothers are quite simlpy brilliant and whilst each album has a couple of skip-able tracks, all in all they are amongst the most enjoyable albums of the last few years. This track I'm posting was featured in the OC and is always amongst their best live. I love to shout along, especially to the "Hey Darling! HEY! HEY! Darling!" every time. Such Fun. They are touring again end of the month and have the brilliant Giant Drag along with them; what other reasons could you need to go see?

The Cribs - Hey Scenesters!

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Next up are The Paddingtons who are another hugely entertaining and exciting band, from Hull, that, whilst owing a little to the Libs, have a fun punk sound all of their own. Seeing them towards the end of last year, I realised how devoted their fans were. The album wasn't out but they had every fan singing every word. The music mags seem to be more concerned with the fact that the band featured in Italian Vogue and got involved in some fashion shoots but who can blame a few young guys for taking advantage of these situations. I met them when they played the Venue in Edinburgh last year and they seemed decent guys, far away from the image they try to portray of hardened estate boys done good. The singles they have released so far have all been very strong, especially Panic Attack but this song I'm posting remains the most played song on my i-pod. Not sure why I love it but I know this much; its makes you run faster, makes you drive faster and puts a smile on my face each and every time.

The Paddingtons - Worse for Wear

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Lastly for today, Cazals. The band are London natives and have toured with fellow Londoners and blog favourites The Rakes and (above) The Paddingtons. I haven't seen this band live or read as much as I would like to about them, but of what I've heard I'm a very big fan. Other early single Beat Me to the Bone is also worth tracking down but its this one that has been on heavy rotation for me. They do the Ramones thing of putting the band name as the surname and seem to have a smart and cool image. I'll try go see them live when I get a chance but for now enjoy the track.

Cazals - Poor Innocent Boys

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Some wonderings

So here is a few bands that I'm either not sure why they haven't made it yet or I'm wondering what will become of them. Its quite an incoherent post but I know what I mean.

Mystery Jets are perhaps the band that the most is expected of this coming year. The pressure hasn't stemmed from any particuarly immense hype (such as Arctic Monkeys) but from their position on the forthcoming NME Awards Tour. The reason this puts such pressure is that they are the opening band for the night, following in the footsteps of Franz Ferdinand, Kasier Chiefs and Coldplay. NME have put some amount of faith in them. The difference for me is that well in advance of the tour in previous years, I have already been turned onto the band by a storming single, whether it be Darts of Pleasure or I Predict a Riot, in any case these bands had a song a lot of the crowd would know. I don't think that Mystery Jets have this luxury and will have to put on a stormer (although new song the Boy Who Ran Away should have had some airplay by then at least). I personally believe this may be the band that don't really make it huge but I'd love to be wrong as I really love some of their stuff especially my posted track. I'll get back once I've seen them live and hopefully more of you will be fans by then too.

Mystery Jets - You Can't Fool Me Dennis

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Second up is a band which has excited me more than most over the last year. Introduced to me as so often by Zane Lowe, Be Your Own Pet are an immensely exciting live band who I think will make it big this year. The band are four very young, average of about 18 years old I think, boys and girl from Nashville (making them the first non - UK band for me to post about) who make quick and exhilirating bursts of punk somewhere between Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Cribs. A beautiful front woman never hurts the cause and seeing her onstage last year, supporting the Kills, she has certainly been studying Karen O a little; she is forever moving and has excellent presence, staring out the crowd from time to time too. I think the band are an excellent prospect and have numerous great tunes from Fire Department to the rocking Spill. This track I'm posting is perhaps my favourite of theirs but from what I've heard is not due to feeature on their debut album. I like to see this in bands, not relying on their first releases for their first album, I just hope they have some on the album to match it.

The band are touring the UK at the end of the month, I highly recommend you go see.

Be Your Own Pet - Damn Damn Leash

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Next we have The Longcut, a Manchester band who seem to have fallen of the radar a little. I feel it has a little to do with the manner they went about releasing things. Two excellent EPs which got them a load of coverage and a solid fanbase but from their things went a little quiet. Hopefully they will get their album out as early as possible this year and get moving again because this song I'm posting was an instant hit with myself and others such as a Quiet Life are equally thrilling. So come on, get the album out, get a full tour together and live up to the potential!

The Longcut - Transition

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Hogmanay finally done

Well thats Hogmanay finally over with so life will be back to normal now, back to uni next week etc. Had a few computer problems but as of tomorrow updates will be regular again. Thank you to the people who have linked to me so far, it is hugely appreciated and I will return the favour when I figure out how to do it.


In the next few days I am going to post tracks by bands that seem to have fallen off the radar a little, not sure who yet but I'm thinking along the lines of The Longcut and also of posting the first tracks by non-UK artists who haven't made it yet either, maybe Be Your Own Pet. Any other bands that people would like to see a track put up by maybe leave a suggestion.

Later... (but soon)